Italian Culture

Italy is richly steeped in culture dating back thousands of years to the start of Italian civilization with the Greeks, Romans and Etruscans. Since then, Italy has evolved to become a country that today honors its ancient heritage and celebrates its modern strides that have proudly spread Italian influence throughout the world.

From the fantastic Florentine Renaissance art of painter Botticelli to the work of painter, sculptor, poet and architect Michelangelo to the modern-day entertainers such as Frank Sinatra and Madonna who greatly contribute to America's cultural scene - Italian culture has become an integral part of the global community. People around the globe can thank Italy for such things as the ice cream cone, pretzel, telephone, telescope, piano and parachute, to name a few.

Within Italy, most important to its people is the tradition of family as a source of stability and loyalty. Italy is also rich in festivals and celebrations of heritage, rich in library collections, in music, dialects and cuisine. History and culture surround every area from the smallest town to the largest city: Italian cities are considered living museums.

The country is home to Roman ruins, Greek temples, Moorish architecture and Byzantine mosaics. Famed writers Horace, Dante, Vasari and Boccaccio come from Italian roots and Italians produced talented musicians such as Verdi, Vivaldi and Bellini and actors like Marcello Mastroianni and Gina Lollobrigida.

Additional Information regarding Italian Culture can be found at the following websites:

Italian Culture & History

Tricolore

Dolce Vita